LIVERPOOL STAYERS’

HURDLE (GRADE 1)

COLIN Tizzard’s Thistlecrack simply gets better and better and the leading staying hurdler on either side of the Irish Sea thrashed the opposition in the Grade 1 Liverpool Stayers’ Hurdle, making all the running and coming home seven lengths ahead of Willie Mullins’ Shaneshill without ever being asked a serious question.

For those prepared to play at very short prices, Thistlecrack made 2/7 look almost generous. Setting off at a steady pace, Tom Scudamore quickened the tempo at the eighth and, apart from a minor mistake two out, the winner looked in total control.

Shaneshill, second in the RSA Chase, was by no means disgraced on his return to hurdles and readily held Gordon Elliott’s Prince Of Scars for second, ahead of interesting German challenger Serienschock, who was ridden by Ludovic Philipperon, grandson of a brother to Maurice Philipperon, the great French jockey from the 1970s and 80s.

Interestingly Scudamore, who described Thistlecrack as easily the best he had ever ridden, can foresee the eight-year-old becoming a leading Gold Cup contender at some stage.

For the moment, his trainer is happy to go on mopping up all the top staying hurdle prizes.

“He doesn’t appear to have a bottom to him and you can go as fast as you like for as long as you like. He’ll go Punchestown now,’’ Tizzard said.